AEP Named One Of America's Best Employers For Diversity 2019 By Forbes

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) has been named to Forbes magazine's America's Best Employers for Diversity 2019 list.

The list was developed based on an independent survey from a sample of more than 50,000 U.S.-based employees. The survey was administered in a series of online panels and provide a representative sample of the nation's workforce.

"AEP views diversity and inclusion as an integral part of our business strategy and company culture," said Nicholas K. Akins, AEP's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We're pleased our employees recognize and contribute to our efforts to foster an inclusive workplace with talented individuals from all backgrounds. As we position AEP for future success, we continue to advance and unlock the power of diverse perspectives to better serve our customers, drive innovation and generate sustainable growth."

In 2017, AEP developed a five-year diversity and inclusion strategic plan. This roadmap focuses on four key areas: a diverse workforce; an inclusive and engaged workforce; sustainability and accountability; and external partnerships. Each of the goals is accompanied by strategies to ensure successful implementation, in addition to an accountability structure. Progress is measured, tracked and reported in AEP's annual Corporate Accountability Report.

American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to our customers. AEP's more than 18,000 employees operate and maintain the nation's largest electricity transmission system and more than 219,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.4 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation's largest electricity producers with approximately 32,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including 4,340 megawatts of renewable energy. AEP's family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, AEP Energy Partners, AEP OnSite Partners, and AEP Renewables, which provide innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide.